The great John W. Gardner identified four sources of stress endemic to leadership: hostile criticism, invasion of privacy, work overload, and combat. He noted that negative consequences such as alcoholism, bitterness, paranoia and self-pity are among the most common afflictions leaders frequently experience. Gardner also highlighted the importance of leaders’ recognizing their need for stress reduction strategies such as obtaining adequate rest, occasions of isolation and inactivity, seeking solace in friends, family, and faith, and maintaining a healthy perspective on life. My experience in leadership development and wellness promotion has taught me that continually practiced, those strategies that Gardner mentions enable self-renewal by releasing human energy and talent, equipping leaders to facilitate the renewal process in their sphere of influence. I have also seen that to avoid those strategies is to risk doing harm to self, others, and ultimately to the organization in which the leader serves.

Charles A. Ericksen, Ed.D.